California mother charged after 8-year-old girl killed by train

Joy Frances Collins, 44, has been charged with child neglect likely to cause great bodily injury or death and trespassing, according to Central Valley Today.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said at a press conference Thursday that Collins, her 9-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter were trying to get to a bus stop around 6 p.m. when a mile-long train blocked their route.

The train slowed and eventually stopped. Dyer said that – just seconds after the train came to a halt – Collins told the children that they had to hurry or they would miss the bus, according to a witness.

“The mother then told the 9-year-old son to cross the railroad track,” Dyer said. “The son then crawled underneath one of the rail cars to get over to the west side.”

Dyer said Collins then told her daughter, identified by the paper as Joyanna Harris, to follow, but the girl was reluctant at first.

“Upon being encouraged to cross the track, she, too, made her way underneath the rail car and attempted to get to the other side,” Dyer said.

It was then that the train lurched forward, Dyer said, leaving the girl lodged under the car.

“That child was pulled or dragged on the railroad for approximately 500 feet,” Dyer said.